Former TR standout Greenwood wins Rubick Run

Kelly Greenwood of Two Rivers heads for the final stretch in the 6th annual Ron Rubick Run on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2014 at Ron Rubick Municipal Field in Manitowoc. The 5k (3.1mi) race started at Manitowoc Lincoln High School at 9 am and benefits Manitowoc Lincoln High School, Holy Family Hospital Cancer Center, and Aurora Medical Center - Two Rivers. Greenwood placed first overall in the run.(Photo: Matthew Apgar/HTR Media)

When Kellie Greenwood rounded the fence to enter the track at Ron Rubick Municipal Athletic Field for the home stretch, the gathered spectators couldn't believe their eyes.

It wasn't that Greenwood was about to become the first woman to win the 6th annual Ron Rubick Run, it was the fashion in which she did it — commanding.

The former Two Rivers standout and junior on the Marquette cross country team finished the 5K (3.1 mile) race in 17:46, nearly a minute and a half faster than second-place finisher Drew Hoffman (19:10).

The race began at Lincoln high school before concluding at Rubick Field.

Hoffman, a soon-to-be sophomore, is a member on the Manitowoc Lincoln cross country team meaning until he gets his drivers license he can at least get places in short order.

Both the top finishers spoke how special it is for a local to win the run in honor of the late Ships football coach Ron Rubick who spent 32 years at Lincoln as both a coach and educator. Rubick passed away in 2009 after a long battle with cancer.

"It's special for me to finish so high because coach Rubick was a great coach and my dad played for him when he was in high school," Hoffman said when asked if the run held any more significance being a Lincoln student.

Greenwood shared similar sentiments.

"It's nice to have a local win local races," Greenwood said. "It's cool to be able to represent myself and what I've worked hard for in my community."

Race organizer Don Davey, a former Lincoln football player under Rubick who went on to play at Wisconsin and then in the NFL for the Packers and Jaguars, was pleased to see a woman win the race for the first time.

"A girl winner for the first time is great," Davey said. "As a proud father of five daughters that's great to see."

The race itself turned into a two-person contest with Hoffman leading for about half the way before Greenwood overtook him.

"I was just trying to take it easy and relax," Greenwood said of her strategy. "Then once I got about to mile two I was still feeling pretty good so I thought I've got nothing to lose so might as well go for it.

"I passed (Hoffman) at about mile two and I was like that's when you have that slight doubt but once I got to the last half mile that's when I knew I kind of had it."

Davey felt the turnout, which saw 124 runners finish the race in addition to countless spectators, was thanks in large part to the weather.

"Turnout has been fantastic," Davey said. "Online registration was a little slow up until this week when it was really robust and we had a ton of walk-ups last night and this morning. With a 5K some people wait and see what the weather is going to be like which is understandable."

As a participant, Greenwood enjoyed the atmosphere of the race.

"It was nice running through the community," Greenwood said. "Having people from the community outside their houses, playing music or having people cheer. I think that's great when the community comes together even though they're not running the race they're still cheering on the runners. I'm definitely coming back."

Even though the race is in memory of Rubick, it's the community which is helped by the run as all proceeds from the event went to renovations of Rubick Plaza at Lincoln High School, Holy Family Hospital Cancer Center and Aurora Medical Center, Two Rivers.